Meeting Tusk with Merzev
On Monday in Berlin, Prime Minister Donald Tusk met German Chancellor Friedrich Merzem. During the joint conference, among others, the subject of compensation for damages and losses suffered by Poland during planet War II was discussed.
Merz stressed that, according to the current and erstwhile German governments, the issue of reparations is resolved both politically and legally. At the same time, he pointed out that the process of commemorating victims and measuring the past remains a continuous task. He assured that Germany recognized its historical work and conducted a dialog with Poland, expressing its hope for a mutually satisfactory solution.
Tusk made clear the attitude to the issue of reparation:
Germany adheres to this formal-graduate act from the 1950s. As you well know, those who know past in the 1950s. Poland de facto had nothing to say about it and the resignation of reparations by Poles is not considered to be an act compatible with the will of the Polish people. due to the fact that then the Polish people had nothing to say about it. If we do not get a fast and unambiguous declaration from Germany on the payment of compensation for the surviving Polish victims of planet War II, I will consider Poland's decision to fulfil this need. Hurry up if you truly want to make that gesture.
Grossman about the problem
Commenting on our Prime Minister's visit, German media focused mainly on the issue of reparation, making them again loud.
Viktoria Grossmann of Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote that Germany does not intend to pass on further funds for Polish victims of Nazism, which in her opinion is mainly related to the policy pursued in Poland by right-wing populists. The writer reports that during the talks between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Donald Tuski, the German side again refused to extend benefits to the surviving victims of the Nazi occupation. alternatively of concrete declarations, only the announcement of “searching possibilities” to supply support to Polish victims from 1939 to 1945 appeared.
Grossmann stressed that in Poland, the issue of redress remains important, although voices appear to focus on the future. She pointed out that the problem is not hard to solve due to the fact that the Polish-German Foundation Reconciliation has for years been proposing that additional funds be transferred to surviving victims, not only to erstwhile forced laborers. Germany postpones the decision, utilizing the political sensitivity of the subject in Poland, and Tusk fears that withdrawals could harm his government. Grossmann concludes that both Polish and German authorities treat the substance cynically, recognising that helping victims of Nazism does not bring political benefits.
Der Spiegel about deficiency of results
The weekly “Der Spiegel” in turn estimated that the Polish-German consultations in Berlin ended without breakthrough results. The authors of the material, Jan Puhl and Severin Weiland, indicate that although Germany and Poland should keep close relations, 80 years after the war relations between countries stay hard and unattractive.
Merz stressed the request for strong Poland as a partner in Europe and assured Germany's support for Poland, but "The warm words should not obscure the fact that relations between Poland and Germany are uninspired and enthusiastic and are at a dead end". According to the “Speel”, after being taken over by the Tusk government the conditions to a good neighbourhood were favorable, and nevertheless polls show the historically low sympathy of Poles towards Germans. Poland seeks designation in the West, while Germany focuses on the West and forgets the East, and the influence of the far right hinders the approximation.
